Minneapolis -- Closer Joe Borowski went Friday. No. 1 starter C.C. Sabathia may be gone before he makes his next start Tuesday at Comerica Park against the Tigers.

The Indians are talking with Milwaukee about a deal in which they'd trade Sabathia, last year's Cy Young winner, for prospects. The Indians have been scouting Milwaukee's farm system, paying particular attention to its Class AA Huntsville, Ala., team.

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The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Thursday that the Indians have also been scouting third baseman Taylor Green at Class A Brevard County in Florida.

Milwaukee's Hunstville club is loaded with good-hitting position players, something the Indians lack in the big leagues and minors. Outfielders Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley, shortstop Alcides Escobar, third baseman Mat Gamel and catcher Angel Salome have drawn the interest of the Indians and other teams.

LaPorta and Salome might be the most talented of the bunch. The Indians need a power-hitting outfielder like LaPorta, the Brewers' top pick last year, but they're deep at catcher with Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach.

Gamel is having a big season offensively, but he needs a lot of work defensively. Escobar is a fast-rising shortstop, but the Brewers might not want to trade him.

Paul Dolan, the Indians' team president, said recently on television that the Indians would try to re-sign Sabathia before trading him. If there are negotiations going on, they're being quietly handled.

The Indians offered Sabathia a five-year extension before the start of spring training. The new money in the deal was worth $72 million over four years.

Shapiro commented little about Sabathia on Friday. He wouldn't say if the club was talking with the 6-7 left-hander or if his trade value is increasing the closer it gets to the July 31 deadline for making trades without having to use waivers.

The Brewers are third in the NL Central behind Chicago and St. Louis. At the start of play Friday night, they were 4½ games out of first place.

If they acquired Sabathia, it would only be as a rental. It's unlikely the small-market Brewers could offer Sabathia a big enough contract to get him to pass up free agency. If that's the case, the Indians could still make Sabathia an offer this winter as a free agent.

TEST TIME: With any thought of contending dashed, Shapiro will spend the rest of the season evaluating talent for next year.

"Brian Slocum is out of options next year and we've got to find out about him," said Shapiro. "We have to see more of Edward Mujica. At sometime Asdrubal Cabrera will be back up. We've got to figure out what Ryan Garko is going to be. We need to get Jeremy Sowers to improve."

Shapiro does not want to go winless from here to the season finale.

"There has to be a duality to how we approach these games," he said. "No. 1 we want to compete to win every night. We also want to ensure that we get something out of this season -- evaluation and development."

Manager Eric Wedge said the same thing, but was not as specific as Shapiro.

When asked how much playing time veteran outfielder David Dellucci would get for the rest of the year, he said, "We'll wait until everything plays out."

ANOTHER REBUILD? Shapiro does not think the Indians have to start over.

"What we need to get back is a healthy Victor Martinez, Fausto Carmona and Travis Hafner," he said. "We'll have Jake Westbrook back in the middle of next year.

"We may need a tweak, but if you look at Chicago and the Twins last year, I think we're just as well in position as they were."

CLOSED SHOP: Shapiro does not see a closer in the system to replace Borowski.

"We'll probably have to address that in the off-season," he said.

FINALLY: Class AA Akron Aeros third baseman Wes Hodges will play in the Futures Game as part of the All-Star game festivities at Yankee Stadium. . . . The Indians signed right-hander Preston Larrison and sent him to Class AAA Buffalo, N.Y.

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